MEMPHIS, TN – Top-seeded Walters State opened up their time at the TCCAA/Region 7 Tournament with a 67-51 win over eighth-seeded Pellissippi State on Saturday afternoon at Southwest Tennessee Community College. 

With the win, the Lady Senators will play in the Semifinals against Roane State on Monday at 12 pm CT. 

Terryauna Griffin led the way for Walters State in the game with 18 points and six rebounds, while Kyra Perkins added 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Other contributors were Raegan Starks with 12 points and six rebounds, Jahliya McDonald with six points, Nyjah Gibbs with four points and seven rebounds, Morgan Williams with four points, five rebounds and three assists, Ellie Linx with three points and Alexis Hood with two points and four rebounds. 

As a team, the Lady Senators shot 45% from the field and made six 3-pointers. Defensively, Walters State held Pellissippi to 36.2% from the field and forced 19 turnovers.

The Lady Senators started quick in the game as Griffin scored, Gibbs scored and Griffin hit a 3-pointer that made it 7-0. Pellissippi hit two 3-pointers to cut the lead to 9-6, but Griffin hit a three, Perkins scored, Starks made a free throw and McDonald scored to make it 18-6. Starks scored one more time in the quarter, and it was 20-9 after one. 

In the second, Walters State got up 27-12 after two free throws by Perkins, and it was 30-17 after a bucket by Perkins. Griffin and McDonald scored to end the half, and it was 34-23 Lady Senators heading to the break. 

In the third, Pellissippi made a charge as they cut the lead to 36-28 four minutes in. Perkins made a layup to calm the storm, and Starks drilled a three that got the advantage back to 13. From there, Starks hit another three that made it 47-32 and Williams made a layup that made it 50-34 at the end of three. 

In the fourth, the Lady Senators got the lead to 21 and were never threatened from there. Griffin scored eight points in the final 10 minutes while Linx hit a three.